Lobelia plant named ‘LOCLA02-0’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Lobelia erinus  cultivar named ‘LOCLA02-0’ is disclosed, characterized by very well-branched, compact plants. Flowers are large and distinctively bright lavender purple with a white throat. Foliage is attractive dark green under high light conditions. The new variety is a  Lobelia , and is normally used as an ornamental garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Lobelia erinus.

Variety denomination: ‘LOCLA02-0’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is the product of a breeding program, with the objectto develop floriferous compact Lobelia varieties for commercialapplications. The new variety originated from an open pollination of theseed parent, Lobelia erinus ‘Africo Sky’, unpatented, with unidentifiedpollinators. The open pollination resulting in the new variety was madeJune 2013 at a research greenhouse in Dresden, Germany.

The new variety was selected by the inventor, during June of 2014 at aresearch nursery in greenhouse in Dresden, Germany. After identifyingthe new variety as a potentially interesting selection, the inventorcontinued confidential testing and propagation of ‘LOCLA02-0’ assessingstability of the unique characteristics of this variety.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘LOCLA02-0’ was first performedin Dresden, Germany by vegetative terminal cuttings in August of 2014.‘LOCLA02-0’ has since been reproduced over multiple generations and hasshown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable andreproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘LOCLA02-0’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘LOCLA02-0’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘LOCLA02-0’ as a new and distinct Lobelia erinuscultivar:

-   -   1. Large flowers.    -   2. Compact plant habit.    -   3. Bright purple flowers with a white throat.    -   4. Improved branching, producing more branches per plant than        typically observed in commercial varieties.    -   5. Attractive dark foliage when exposed to directly sunlight.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘LOCLA02-0’ are similar to the seed parent inmost horticultural characteristics. The new variety, however, differs inthe following:

-   -   1. The new variety produces bright lavender flowers compared to        the blue flower of the seed parent    -   2. Plants of the new variety are more compact than plants of the        comparator.

The pollen parent is unidentified.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘LOCLA02-0’ are similar to plants of thecommercial variety, Lobelia erinus ‘Africo Lavender’, unpatented, inmost horticultural characteristics. However, plants of the new cultivar‘LOCLA02-0’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. Plants of the new variety are more compact than this        comparator.    -   2. Plants of the new variety produces larger flowers than those        of this comparator.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘LOCLA02-0’ are similar to plants of thecommercial variety, Lobelia erinus ‘Weslodala’, unpatented, in mosthorticultural characteristics. However, plants of the new cultivar‘LOCLA02-0’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. Plants of the new variety produce larger flowers than this        comparator.    -   2. Plants of the new variety produce more branches than plants        of this comparator.    -   3. Flower color of the new variety is lighter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘LOCLA02-0’ grown in a greenhouse and photographed inApril. The pot size is a commercial 8 inch pot. The plant shown isapproximately 16 weeks old.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of flowers of the new variety,photographed during April. The photographs were taken using conventionaltechniques and although colors may appear different from actual colorsdue to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventionalphotographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘LOCLA02-0’ plants grown in a commercialcontrolled greenhouse in Santa Paula, Calif. Temperatures ranged from15° C. to 28° C. during the day and 18° C. to 22° C. at night. Noartificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments weregiven to the plants. Measurements and numerical values representaverages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Lobelia erinus ‘LOCLA02-0’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: About 8 to 14 days at approximately 25° C.-   Root description: Fibrous, colored near RHS Greyed-Orange 165D.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Mounded flowering annual.-   Plant spread: 50 cm.-   Growth rate: Moderate to rapid.-   Branching characteristics: Very well branched.-   Length of primary lateral branches: Average range 8 to 18 cm.-   Diameter of lateral branches: 3 mm.-   Quantity of primary lateral branches: About 230.-   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:    -   -   Form.—Round.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 138A, flushed Greyed-Purple N186C or            N186D.        -   Texture.—Short, somewhat rough, dense pubescence.        -   Strength.—Moderately flexible and strong.-   Internode length: Average range 1.0 to 2.0 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 8 to 18 per branch.        -   Average length.—2.5 to 3.5 cm.        -   Average width.—7 to 10 mm.        -   Shape of blade.—Lanceolate to narrow elliptic.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Sparse, shallow irregularly shaped dentations.        -   Texture of top surface.—Somewhat rough pubescence.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Somewhat rough pubescence.        -   Aspect.—Slightly undulating.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: RHS Green 137B flushed            N186C. Young foliage under side: RHS Green 138A. Mature            foliage upper side: RHS Green 137C, heavily flushed N186C.            Mature foliage under side: RHS Green 137C, heavily flushed            N186C.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: RHS            Green 143C. Venation color under side: RHS Green 137C.        -   Petiole.—Sessile.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Flowering occurs continuously during    growing season from spring until fall under Southern California    climatic conditions. Flowering begins approximately 3 weeks after    planting a rooted cutting.-   Flower type and habit: Flowers arranged singly at lateral apices.-   Number of flowers per plant: Approximately 500.-   Fragrance: None.-   Longevity: Depending on weather conditions, 7-14 days for single    flower. Flowering season for the entire plant lasts approximately    250 days.-   Flower size:    -   -   Overall length.—1.7 cm.        -   Overall width.—2.5 cm.        -   Tube length.—1.1 cm.        -   Diameter.—Distal end: 4 mm.        -   Proximal end: 3 mm.-   Flower shape and petal arrangement: Tubular with three larger lower    petals and two upright petals.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Conical with a distal sphere.        -   Length.—1.4 cm.        -   Diameter.—7 mm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Purple N187D, upper section            Green-White 157A, distal sphere flushed Violet 83B.-   Corolla:    -   -   Petals/lobes.—Number: 5 total, 3 large lower and 2 smaller            upper petals. Upper petals. Length: 11 mm. Width: 4 mm.            Lower petals. Length: 1.4 cm. Width: 0.9 cm. Shape: Obovate.            Aspect: Slightly undulate. Margin: Entire, slightly            undulate. Texture: Smooth. Color: Upper Petals: When            opening: Upper surface: Near RHS Purple-Violet N81A. Lower            surface: Near RHS Purple-Violet N82B, mid vein and blotches            N81A. Fully opened: Upper surface: Near RHS Purple-Violet            N81A, very slightly flushed Violet 83A. Lower surface: Near            RHS Purple-Violet N82B, mid vein and blotches N81A. Lower            Petals: When opening: Upper surface: Central section of all            petals together near White N155A, irregularly blotched N82C.            Outer edge of side petals near Purple-Violet N82C flushed            Violet 83D. Lower surface: Central section of all petals            together near White N155A, irregularly blotched N82B and            N82C. Outer edge of side petals near Purple-Violet N82B            flushed 82A and Violet 83B. Fully opened: Upper surface:            Central section of all petals together near White N155A,            irregularly blotched N82C. Outer edge of side petals near            Purple-Violet N82C. Lower surface: Central section of all            petals together near White N155A, irregularly blotched N82B            and N82C. Outer edge of side petals near Purple-Violet N82D            flushed N82A.        -   Throat.—Color: Near RHS White N155D, flushed Violet 83A.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Tube color.—Interior: Near RHS Purple-Violet N82C. Exterior:            Near RHS Purple-Violet N82A.-   Calyx:    -   -   Form.—Star-shaped structure composed of 5 sepals fused at            base.        -   Length.—0.9 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.0 cm.        -   Sepal shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Sepal margin.—Entire.        -   Sepal texture.—Lightly pubescent all surfaces.        -   Sepal color.—Upper surface: Near Green 137A heavily flushed            Violet 83A. Lower surface: Near Green 137A heavily flushed            Violet 83A. Fragrance: None.-   Peduncles:    -   -   Length.—About 2.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 0.8 mm.        -   Color.—Green 137C, flushed Purple N79A.        -   Texture.—Rough pubescence.        -   Aspect.—Undulating.        -   Strength.—Soft, flexible.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number (per flower).—5, fused.        -   Filament length.—8 mm.        -   Anthers.—Shape: Oblong. Length: 1.5 mm. Color: Near RHS            Greyed-Purple N187B.        -   Pollen.—Color: Near RHS Greyed-Purple N187D. Amount: Scant            to none.-   Pistils:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—1.        -   Length.—8 mm.        -   Style.—Length: 7 mm. Color: Near RHS White N155B.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Linear. Color: RHS Purple-Violet N82A.        -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Yellow 161D.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not observed to date.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    diseases or pests has been observed in this variety.-   Temperature tolerance: The new variety tolerates temperatures from    approximately −5° to 35-8° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lobelia plantnamed ‘LOCLA02-0’ as herein illustrated and described.